We’re into Week 8 of the NFL season, and injuries are piling up across the league. We’ve been tracking the Indianapolis Colts injury report all week and have the latest game status for all fantasy-relevant players who appeared on the report.
If a player you’re looking for isn’t listed below, then they weren’t on the report, and they are set to play, barring any last-minute setback.
If you’re looking for other injuries on other teams, check out our final Week 8 Injury Report, which covers every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Jonathan Taylor, RB
Jonathan Taylor has been sidelined since suffering a high ankle sprain in the Indianapolis Colts’ Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fortunately, Taylor got in limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday, which was a good sign.
On Friday, the Colts officially removed Taylor from their injury report. He will face the Texans in Week 8 and will not carry an injury destination into the game.
Ankle injuries are especially concerning for Taylor, who followed his 2021 All-Pro campaign by missing most of the 2022 season with a sprained ankle.
In his absence, Trey Sermon has played 57% of the snaps, while Tyler Goodson has played 43%. However, Goodson has far outperformed Sermon in that stretch, averaging 4.7 yards per rush compared to 2.9 for Sermon.
Taylor isn’t returning to an ideal matchup. Houston allows the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and is sixth-best by EPA per rush.
Josh Downs, WR
Josh Downs was removed from the Indianapolis Colts’ injury report on Friday and is good to go against the Texans on Sunday.
The Colts have been giving Downs rest days since he injured his toe in Week 5. He hasn’t practiced on Wednesdays in either of the last two weeks. Now also battling a groin injury, Downs continued with that pattern ahead of Week 8.
But here’s where things differed this week: Downs remained a DNP on Thursday. Last week, he returned for a limited practice on Thursday.
Downs missed the first two games of this season with a high ankle sprain. After returning, he was a top-20 fantasy WR in three straight games while catching passes from Joe Flacco. However, he hauled in just one of three targets for three yards after the erratic Anthony Richarson returned under center in Week 7.
Michael Pittman Jr.
Michael Pittman Jr. is still battling the back injury that the Indianapolis Colts initially thought would send him to injured reserve in Week 6. Pittman miraculously played that week and suited up again in Week 7.
Indy has been managing his practice reps. Pittman has only practiced on one day in each of the past two weeks. After sitting out Wednesday’s practice, Pittman was a full participant on Thursday and will be available against the Texans on Sunday.
Pittman led the Colts in targets (five), receptions (three), and receiving yards (63) in last week’s win over the Dolphins, but it’s hard to trust any Indianapolis pass catcher with Richardson under center. Pittman’s WR37 finish in Week 8 was his best output with Richardson as his starting QB.
